Changes: Power Word: Shield

(Edited to make the mention of Spiritual Attunement less condescending towards paladins, as well as clarify that it is not considered bad practice to shield a paladin. Added tip for ICC Lich King's Infest.)

| description = Draws on the soul of the friendly target to shield them, absorbing X damage. Lasts 30 sec. While the shield holds, spellcasting will not be interrupted by damage. Once shielded, the target cannot be shielded again for 15 sec.

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| description = Draws on the soul of the friendly target to shield them, absorbing X damage. Lasts 15 sec. While the shield holds, spellcasting will not be interrupted by damage. Once shielded, the target cannot be shielded again for 15 sec.

'''Power Word: Shield''' (abbr. ''PW:S'') is a defensive [[priest]] [[Power Word]] available at level 6. It creates a protective shield around a friendly target which absorbs a set amount of damage. Power Word: Shield also gives the target the ''Weakened Soul'' debuff for 15 seconds, which prevents the target from being shielded.

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'''Power Word: Shield''' (abbr. ''PW:S'') is a defensive [[priest]] [[Power Word]] available at level five. It creates a protective shield around a friendly target which absorbs a set amount of damage. Power Word: Shield also gives the target the ''Weakened Soul'' debuff for 15 seconds, which prevents the target from being shielded.

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== Table ==

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Power Word: Shield is available at level 5 for {{cost||1|35}}.

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{| class="darktable zebra" style="text-align: center;"

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|-

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! Level !! Mana cost !! Absorbed damage

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| 1 || - || -

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|-

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| 2 || - || -

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|-

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| 3 || - || -

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|-

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| 4 || - || -

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| 5 || 9 % || 143

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| 6 || 10 % || 144

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| 7 || 10 % || 145

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| 8 || 10 % || 145

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| 9 || 10 % || 148

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| 9 || 10 % || 148

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| 10 || 9 % || 151

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|}

== Notes ==

== Notes ==

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* Absorb effects apply after damage reduction effects, including armor. If the damage of an attack is partially resisted or reduced by another effect such as [[Renewed Hope]], this will lower the amount of damage remaining to be absorbed and allow a shield to last longer.

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* Absorb effects apply after damage reduction effects, including armor. If the damage of an attack is partially resisted or reduced by another effect, this will lower the amount of damage remaining to be absorbed and allow a shield to last longer.

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* Power Word: Shield absorbs damage only. Most other effects attached to a damaging attack, such as a debuff that the attack applies or a spell interrupt will ignore the shield even if the attack deals no damage. Exceptions are [[Daze]] effects from being attacked from behind and spell pushback, which are both prevented.

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* Power Word: Shield absorbs damage only. Most other effects attached to a damaging attack, such as a debuff that the attack applies or a spell interrupt will ignore the shield even if the attack deals no damage. Exceptions are [[Daze]] effects from being attacked from behind and spell pushback, which are both prevented.

* Environmental damage (fall, fatigue, drowning) is not absorbed.

* Environmental damage (fall, fatigue, drowning) is not absorbed.

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* Receives a 80.68% bonus from spell power (30% of +healing in Patch 2.3; 20% as of Patch 2.0.10, previously 10%)

* Generates about half the threat of normal healing spells.

* Generates about half the threat of normal healing spells.

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* The shield cannot absorb health paid to pay the cost of an ability such a [[Life Tap]] or [[Blood Tap]]. Such health lost ignores the shield.

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* The shield cannot absorb health paid to pay the cost of an ability such a [[Life Tap]]. Such health lost ignores the shield.

''It should be noted here that PW:S will only absorb damage after all other damage reduction including the target's armor. This means that while the amount absorbed here is 6589 the character will most likely be taking more than 6589 damage before the shield has absorbed all it can.''

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== Bugs ==

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* The bonus given by [[Twin Disciplines]] and [[Focused Power]] do not apply correctly to the amount absorbed by the shield; the bonuses are added instead of multiplied. Thus, when fully talented, the size of the shield is multiplied by 1.09 rather than 1.092. (4% & 5% = 1.04*1.05 = 1.092)

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* [[Glyph of Power Word: Shield]] does not take into account the bonus from [[Improved Power Word: Shield]] when calculating the healing amount

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* The amount healed by [[Glyph of Power Word: Shield]] is increased by any talents or effects the ''target'' has that increase healing done. For example, if the effect is used on a Restoration Shaman, the heal will be increased by 10% because of [[Purification]]. This bug created the commonly held misconception that [[Focused Power]] applies twice to [[Glyph of Power Word: Shield]]. When a priest tests the effect on herself, [[Focused Power]] does apply twice; once correctly and once because of this bug. On any other target the caster's [[Focused Power]] will apply only once.

== Tips and tactics ==

== Tips and tactics ==

* Casting it before combat does not cause any threat and reduces the time until the target can be shielded again.

* Casting it before combat does not cause any threat and reduces the time until the target can be shielded again.

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* A major disadvantage of the shield is that it is not a true healing spell, so it may wear off without having any impact. If the shield is cast on a player who will not be taking damage in the next 30 seconds, it is a waste of mana.

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* A major disadvantage of the shield is that it is not a true healing spell, so it may wear off without having any impact. If the shield is cast on a player who will not be taking damage in the next 15 seconds, it is a waste of mana.

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* Paladinswillnotreceive mana from[[SpiritualAttunement]]from this spell unless glyphed. This is notanissue,as[[DivinePlea]],[[Judgementof Wisdom]], [[Blessing of Sanctuary]], and potentially [[Blessing of Wisdom]] provide a solid mana base, and what traditional heals are used will give enough mana from [[Spiritual Attunement]] that the Paladin will not go [[oom]]. In the event of the shield being sufficient, it was not a very big fight, and thus the paladin did not need to use much mana anyways.

* Due to changes in rage/mana generation (especially with [[Blessing of Sanctuary]]), Power Word: Shield is more acceptable to place on tanks since 3.0.2.

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* There was a time when Power Word: Shield would only be used in case of emergency because of its large mana cost and cooldown. Now it is a mainstay of healing for Discipline priests and is actually one of the Discipline priests' most mana efficient heals.

* Power Word: Shield can also be seen as a way of pushing a tank's health beyond its normal limit. It is effective to Power Word: Shield before major attacks that will destroy the shield in one blow. Using it before [[Patchwerk]]'s Hateful Strike or similar devastating attacks reduces the chance that a tank will die to a possible critical hit after such an attack.

* Power Word: Shield can also be seen as a way of pushing a tank's health beyond its normal limit. It is effective to Power Word: Shield before major attacks that will destroy the shield in one blow. Using it before [[Patchwerk]]'s Hateful Strike or similar devastating attacks reduces the chance that a tank will die to a possible critical hit after such an attack.

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* During the [[Lich King]] fight in [[Icecrown Citadel (instance)]], Power Word: Shield is particularly useful for the ability Infest, as it keeps the tank above normal health, making it easier to bring the tank back up to 90% health and remove the debuff. This is one reason Discipline Priests excel at tank healing this encounter.

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* During the [[Lich King]] fight in [[Icecrown Citadel (instance)]], Power Word: Shield is particularly useful for the ability Infest, as it keeps the tank above normal health, making it easier to bring the tank back up to 90% health and remove the debuff. This is one reason priests excel at tank healing this encounter.

* The effectiveness of Power Word: Shield is not altered by [[Mortal Strike]] and similar healing-reducing debuffs; in these situations it can sometimes be more effective to shield a tank first, rather than spam heals right away.

* The effectiveness of Power Word: Shield is not altered by [[Mortal Strike]] and similar healing-reducing debuffs; in these situations it can sometimes be more effective to shield a tank first, rather than spam heals right away.

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* This is useful for casters who are receiving damage, as it prevents spell interruption from damage, especially while they are channeling, and even the priest himself can benefit from this (especially in solo combat).

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* This is useful for casters who are receiving damage, as it prevents spell interruption from damage, especially while they are channeling, and even the priest can benefit from this (especially in solo combat).

* The Weakened Soul debuff can be shortened to 13 seconds with the 4 piece bonus from [[Gladiator's Investiture]].

* The Weakened Soul debuff can be shortened to 13 seconds with the 4 piece bonus from [[Gladiator's Investiture]].

* In PvP, this spell can be a huge boon to bestow on Rogues and Feral Druids. Any damage taken will unstealth a character. However, if you Power Word: Shield a Rogue, AoE damage that doesn't get through the shield is absorbed, which greatly increases the difficulty of finding a Rogue by laying down an AoE. Power Word: Shield will also absorb the damage from DoT's, allowing DoT'd Rogues to Vanish safely. Just know that if the AoE or DoT damage is greater than the shield will take, then the actual character will take damage and stealth will become undone.

* In PvP, this spell can be a huge boon to bestow on Rogues and Feral Druids. Any damage taken will unstealth a character. However, if you Power Word: Shield a Rogue, AoE damage that doesn't get through the shield is absorbed, which greatly increases the difficulty of finding a Rogue by laying down an AoE. Power Word: Shield will also absorb the damage from DoT's, allowing DoT'd Rogues to Vanish safely. Just know that if the AoE or DoT damage is greater than the shield will take, then the actual character will take damage and stealth will become undone.

Revision as of 03:49, December 31, 2012

Draws on the soul of the friendly target to shield them, absorbing X damage. Lasts 15 sec. While the shield holds, spellcasting will not be interrupted by damage. Once shielded, the target cannot be shielded again for 15 sec.

Draws on the soul of the friendly target to shield them, absorbing X damage. Lasts 15 sec. While the shield holds, spellcasting will not be interrupted by damage. Once shielded, the target cannot be shielded again for 15 sec.

Power Word: Shield (abbr. PW:S) is a defensive priestPower Word available at level five. It creates a protective shield around a friendly target which absorbs a set amount of damage. Power Word: Shield also gives the target the Weakened Soul debuff for 15 seconds, which prevents the target from being shielded.

Contents

Notes

Absorb effects apply after damage reduction effects, including armor. If the damage of an attack is partially resisted or reduced by another effect, this will lower the amount of damage remaining to be absorbed and allow a shield to last longer.

Power Word: Shield absorbs damage only. Most other effects attached to a damaging attack, such as a debuff that the attack applies or a spell interrupt will ignore the shield even if the attack deals no damage. Exceptions are Daze effects from being attacked from behind and spell pushback, which are both prevented.

Environmental damage (fall, fatigue, drowning) is not absorbed.

Generates about half the threat of normal healing spells.

The shield cannot absorb health paid to pay the cost of an ability such a Life Tap. Such health lost ignores the shield.

As of Patch 3.1, will still allow warriors and druids to generate rage from damage absorbed.

Tips and tactics

Casting it before combat does not cause any threat and reduces the time until the target can be shielded again.

A major disadvantage of the shield is that it is not a true healing spell, so it may wear off without having any impact. If the shield is cast on a player who will not be taking damage in the next 15 seconds, it is a waste of mana.

Due to changes in rage/mana generation, Power Word: Shield is more acceptable to place on tanks since 3.0.2.

Power Word: Shield can also be seen as a way of pushing a tank's health beyond its normal limit. It is effective to Power Word: Shield before major attacks that will destroy the shield in one blow. Using it before Patchwerk's Hateful Strike or similar devastating attacks reduces the chance that a tank will die to a possible critical hit after such an attack.

During the Lich King fight in Icecrown Citadel (instance), Power Word: Shield is particularly useful for the ability Infest, as it keeps the tank above normal health, making it easier to bring the tank back up to 90% health and remove the debuff. This is one reason priests excel at tank healing this encounter.

The effectiveness of Power Word: Shield is not altered by Mortal Strike and similar healing-reducing debuffs; in these situations it can sometimes be more effective to shield a tank first, rather than spam heals right away.

This is useful for casters who are receiving damage, as it prevents spell interruption from damage, especially while they are channeling, and even the priest can benefit from this (especially in solo combat).

In PvP, this spell can be a huge boon to bestow on Rogues and Feral Druids. Any damage taken will unstealth a character. However, if you Power Word: Shield a Rogue, AoE damage that doesn't get through the shield is absorbed, which greatly increases the difficulty of finding a Rogue by laying down an AoE. Power Word: Shield will also absorb the damage from DoT's, allowing DoT'd Rogues to Vanish safely. Just know that if the AoE or DoT damage is greater than the shield will take, then the actual character will take damage and stealth will become undone.

Patch changes

Hotfix (2010-02-05): "The amount of damage being absorbed by Sacred Shield and Power Word: Shield is being reduced by 10% correctly in only battlegrounds, Arenas, and Wintergrasp."

Patch 3.3.0 (08-Dec-2009): This spell can now be cast on non-raid/party friendly targets.

Patch 2.4.0 (25-Mar-2008): Using low ranks of this spell will now be penalized the same way healing spells are penalized.